Drowsy Driving Claims Lives in Car Accidents and Injures Others
BOISE and NAMPA, Idaho. According to CNN, drowsy driving leads to over 56,000 crashes each year. Drowsy driving accidents tend to occur either late at night or early in the morning. They often involve a single vehicle leaving the roadway or they take place on a high-speed road where the driver does not try to avoid the accident. In many cases, the driver is alone, behind the wheel.
Risk factors for drowsy driving accidents include time of day vehicles are on the road (early morning or late night), whether a person has an untreated sleep disorder, and whether a person may be taking medication that can lead to drowsiness. Young people are also at risk, as are shift workers, who work at night or those who work irregular hours. Individuals can avoid drowsy driving by getting enough sleep, not drinking if they are sleepy, and limiting driving hours in the late night or early morning.
Drivers who do find themselves sleepy behind the wheel should always pull over and take a nap, or drink about two cups of coffee. Even so, one should never get back behind the wheel until one is fully awake and alert again. Drivers should also remember that drowsy driving can be just as dangerous and deadly as drunk driving. Drowsy driving is a kind of impaired driving.
When drivers are tired, terrible tragedies can happen. Truck drivers, bus drivers, and other commercial drivers have been involved in serious accidents where drowsy driving was a factor. For instance, in a recent Greyhound accident that resulted in one death and at least a dozen other injuries, the driver was likely asleep behind the wheel. CNN found that Greyhound drivers often fail to abide by company policy where drivers are asked to stop every 150 miles, and walk around the vehicle. In a study performed by the government in 2012, 37% of passenger bus crashes occurred due to driver fatigue.
Individuals who have been hurt in crashes due to driver fatigue have successfully sued drivers and companies responsible. Greyhound, for instance, has paid out millions in driver fatigue lawsuits. If you’ve been hurt due to another driver’s negligence and neglect, you may be entitled to compensation under the law. Visit johnsonandlundgreen.com to learn more.
Truck drivers are also required to abide by federal hours of service laws to protect them from drowsy driving. Unfortunately, there have been cases where truck drivers falsified logs or broke the law in order to deliver goods on time or to meet the unreasonable schedules imposed upon them by their company. If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident, the truck accident lawyers at the Law Office of Johnson & Lundgreen may be able to assist you. Our team understands the unique challenges truck accident victims may face. We work closely with victims of drowsy drivers to help them receive the compensation for medical care, lost wages, and pain and suffering they may deserve.
